6 YEAR OLD SON OF BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER IS DEAD

Devastated ... Cameron and Samantha today

Ivan, the six year old son of British Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, has died in a London hospital. Ivan who died early Wednesday morning, suffered from cerebral palsy.

Brave Ivan, six, who Mr Cameron has described as 'wonderful', suffered from cerebral palsy and had been in and out of hospital all his life.

It is believed he suffered a bout of fits overnight at St Mary's hospital in west London and could not be saved.

Mr Cameron and wife Samantha were said to be devastated.

A Conservative Party spokesman confirmed the tragic news saying: “It is with great sadness that David and Samantha Cameron must confirm the death of their six-year-old son Ivan.

“Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, was taken ill overnight and died at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, early this morning.

“David and Samantha would ask that their privacy is respected at this terribly difficult time.”

Family ... the Cameron Christmas card (Getty)

Today's Prime Minister's Questions were cancelled as a historic mark of respect for the death of Mr Cameron's son.

Commons authorities agreed to scrub the weekly clash between the Tory leader and Premier Gordon Brown.

Condolences

Westminster experts say PMQs has never deliberately been cancelled.

Mr Brown – whose baby daughter Jennifer Jane died aged just ten days old in 2002 – told the Commons: “I know that the whole House will want to express our sorrow at the sad death this morning of Ivan Cameron at the age of just six years old.

“I know that in an all too brief life, he brought joy to all those around him and I know also that for all the days of his life, he was surrounded by his family’s love.

“Every child is precious and irreplaceable and the death of a child is an unbearable sorrow that no parent should ever have to endure.

“Politics can sometimes divide us. But there is a common human bond that unites us in sympathy and compassion at times of trial and in support for each other at times of grief.

“Sarah and I have sent our condolences to David and Samantha and I know the whole country - our thoughts and our prayers - are with David, Samantha and their family today.”

Tragedy ... Cameron and family

The Queen has also sent a private message of sympathy to the Camerons.

‘The thoughts and prayers of the whole country are with David, Samantha and their family. ’

Ivan was diagnosed with Ohtahara Syndrome – a very rare epilepsy syndrome that occurs in childhood.

He was frequently in and out of hospital and needed round-the-clock care and treatment.

The Camerons were always braced for tragedy but had begun to plan how they might move into Downing Street with a severely handicapped child.

Only three weeks ago Mr Cameron told The Sun's deputy political editor Graeme Wilson how he had taken Ivan sledging for the first time.

The couple have two other children, Nancy, five, and Arthur, three.

On learning of his son’s illness, Mr Cameron said: "It hits you like a freight train because all the expectations you have for your child change immediately."

He said the family discovered the illness only 24 hours after Ivan was born: "We noticed he was having these very strange movements — sudden jerky movements.

"Initially we were told he was fine. Then we went to hospital and ran some tests and we were told he had a very rare condition.

"It's a combination of epilepsy and cerebral palsy."

They worked tirelessly to care for Ivan and made no secret of his illness.

In a 2007 speech, Mr Cameron said: "I help care for a severely disabled child - my son.

Father ...Tory leader with sons Ivan and Arthur at Xmas service in York

"It's what I do at the start of each day. It's sharpened my focus on the world of care assessments, eligibility criteria, and disability living allowance, respite breaks, OTs, SENCOs, and other sets of initials.

"But I would not dare to call myself a career. The work that full-time careers or those with little extra help do is unbelievable."

A special unit was set up at St Mary's hospital, near their north Kensington home, to deal with his frequent seizures and fits.

Friends have previously said Mr. Cameron’s “modernizing” leadership of the Conservatives was because of the NHS care Ivan received.

The illness also helped the Tory leader realize that there is more to life than politics, it was said.

Mr Cameron was due to join Lady Thatcher at a reception in Downing Street today to accompany her to an unveiling of her portrait which will hang in number 10.